GE is reportedly in talks to unload its massive $74 billion US commercial loan portfolio

(Reuters) - General Electric Co is in early-stage talks with
Wells Fargo & Co about selling its entire $74 billion U.S.
commercial lending and leasing (CLL) portfolio to the bank,
according to a source familiar with the situation.

Other parties may also hold talks with GE about buying the entire
U.S. CLL portfolio, the source said. GE is also exploring selling
the U.S. CLL portfolio piecemeal and could decide to break the
business up, the source added.

The source asked not to be identified because the talks are
confidential. GE and Wells Fargo declined to comment.

The talks with Wells Fargo underscored GE's urgency in looking to
dismantle its GE Capital business and free itself from the
financial regulatory pressures that come with it.

GE earlier this month unveiled plans to exit the bulk of GE
Capital over the next few years to focus more on industrial
manufacturing.

(Reporting by Mike Stone and Lewis Krauskopf in New York; Editing
by Jeffrey Benkoe)